They’re calling it Willy-peg these days because of the early-season performance of Winnipeg QB Drew Willy, who plays his former team tonight. We can talk about the game and the rest of the week in the CFL at our weekly Lions live chat at 1 p.m. Friday at theprovince.com (Files)

THURSDAY

Saskatchewan at Winnipeg, 5:30 p.m.

Two things were learned during the six days the Riders just spent in Ottawa: There are bars in the nation’s capital, and Taj Smith isn’t allowed to go into them.

It’s only been a year, but at least one detail pursuant to the charge of aggravated assault that was handed Smith as a result of a Regina nightclub incident has finally emerged when it was alleged he showed up at a bistro in nearby Gatineau, Que. As such, he won’t play against the Bombers. The club sent him away to parts unknown, in fact.

Justice has indeed a different way of being served in different parts of our great land.

Now the Riders can focus on Drew Willy, which isn’t something they did much when he was in Saskatchewan but has become outstanding player material in six games in Winnipeg.

“I can remember when Drew came into my office and he told me that he would be a starting quarterback in this league and that he would do a good job. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy and he’s living it.” Riders coach Corey Chamblin said.

Willy’s win for Winnipeg on the road against Hamilton was darn near storybook material given that it came on the final play of the game, and is leaving the 5-1 Bombers feeling invincible. Saskatchewan has scored 75 points in its last two games and has its running game settled finally with ex-Bombers RB Will Ford, but they are playing a more well-rounded defence in Winnipeg and an offence which gets another weapon in Cory Watson back from injury. This matchup is a rivalry again, one which will become familiar. The teams meet each other three times in the next five weeks. Province pick: Bombers

FRIDAY

Edmonton at Montreal, 4 p.m.

It’s almost reached the point where the only thing missing at Als home games is a carousel and cotton candy vendors, such is the state of the carnival around a team that can’t score. Jeff Garcia joined the merry band of advisors to Montreal coach Tom Higgins this week, prompting Giulio Caravatta of Team 1040/Sportsnet fame to wonder: “Who’s next, Doug Flutie?” Every time the Lions get full of themselves this year they should be reminded they lost to this team, and it wasn’t even close.

Certainly, Troy Smith needs help, but the coaching additions only proves there’s not much else at this stage Jim Popp can do. Against an Edmonton team that has been on a bye and therefore able to close practices so they can run punt fakes out of their end zone for days, they should be no match. Province pick: Eskimos

Hamilton at B.C., 7 p.m.

There’s always just something about a Kent Austin team, or is that there’s always just something about Austin himself? The Tabbies grand poobah looked as if he was a coronary in the making last week against Winnipeg, and for the number of penalties his team was taking, who could blame the guy for being upset?

Thing is, the Tabbies have some talent, but a lot of teams that are lacking can say the same things they are in Hamilton these days, which is the fact they’ve lost three of their four games by four points or less. They’ve won in Vancouver before and last season came within a field goal of upsetting the Lions, who have proven they are quite capable of overlooking an opponent. But with Hamilton at 0-3 on the road so far, it’s hard to choose any other way in this one. Province pick: Lions.

SATURDAY

Ottawa at Calgary, 6:30 p.m.

If the teams aren’t a good reason to tune in to watch this one, how about tuning in to see Ben Major. The veteran CFL umpire got whacked badly right below his left eye during the Als-Bombers game last week and is scheduled to work this game. Officials get ripped around here a lot. You don’t ever read anything questioning their courage.

After a reasonable start, Ottawa has gone stone-cold on offence, with Henry Burris quarterback rating of 77.9 lower than even that of Kevin Glenn. The defence isn’t a problem – it can’t be if the team cut veteran T.J, Hill and are replacing him with rookie Antoine Pruneau, the player Ottawa received in the draft from the Glenn trade. It’ll be no picnic for Burris against another of his former teams in the Stamps, who lost for the first time against B.C. but were hardly spanked. Province pick: Stamps

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